Sixers say center Embiid is doubtful for Game 3 tonight

The Philadelphia 76ers are still uncertain when they will have center Joel Embiid back in the lineup.

On Wednesday, the Sixers officially listed Embiid as doubtful for tonight’s Game 3 against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. Embiid has missed the past 10 games because of broken orbital bone and concussion.

Sixers coach Brett Brown did not offer many new details, but said he has no idea when Embiid will return.

“I’m not really anything,” Brown said. “I am completely neutral. We’ll coach and plan and think like that until somebody tells me otherwise.”

Embiid went through a light workout at the team’s practice at the Gibson Park community center in Overtown. During the media viewing portion of practice, Embiid hit several 3-pointers and appeared in good spirits.

“He’s been happy that we held it down without him,’ Sixers forward Robert Covington said. “He knows that he’s going to want be out there with us the entire time. As a competitor, you always want to be out there with your team, with your brothers fighting ...He’s frustrated about it.

Embiid, who was an All-Star for the first time this season, is averaging 22.9 points, 11 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. The Sixers won the first nine games without him, but the streak ended with Monday’s loss to the Heat in Game 2, which evened the series at 1.

After the game, Embiid took to social media to voice his displeasure of being held out. He remained sidelined despite clearing the NBA’s concussion protocol.

On Tuesday, vented on his personal Instagram account.

“F---ing sick and tired of being babied,” Embiid wrote.

Embiid hasn’t played since March 28 when he sustained the injury after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and has worn a protective mask during workouts.

“He did a little bit of contact,” Brown said. “Not much, but a little. Got up and down and scripted some plays. But really not much more than that.”

Brown said Embiid has looked solid in the workouts. They expect conditioning to be the toughest obstacle.

“Just as you would expect after being off however many weeks, not playing, it’s going to take time getting his fitness up,” Brown said. “He is an athlete. Whenever the time comes when he does play, I think it will move in a more rapid way. I think his body looks great. If you just look at him physically, his body weight, I think he looks fantastic.”

Without Embiid, the Sixers are minus their leading scorer and top defender. Brown, who said he expects Embiid to return at some point in the series, feels getting him back acclimated in the offense is the toughest challenge.

“I think defensively he immediately comes in and changes the landscape,” Brown said. “The game is being played so fast right now. He has not been with us for a while, so I think the adjustment offensively might be a little bit more noticeable than defensively initially. He’s so gifted. He’s intelligent. He really is as smart and an instinctive as I’ve coached.”